Palestinian Authority joins 5 U.N. global treaties

JERUSALEM (JTA) — The Palestinian Authority formally joined five global treaties at the United Nations.

The membership became official on Friday, the United Nations told the French news agency AFP.

The five treaties ban torture and racial discrimination and protect the rights of women, children and the disabled, according to the report.

The membership comes after Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas on April 2 signed 15 applications to join the U.N. conventions in retaliation for Israel’s failure to release a final batch of Palestinian prisoners by March 29. The Palestinians had agreed to refrain from requesting international recognition as long as peace talks with Israel were ongoing.

The Palestinians on May 7 will formally join a treaty protecting children in conflict zones and on July 2 two agreements involving civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights, according to AFP.